NHTSA Complaint #10668063 — 2012 CHRYSLER 200

THERE IS LOW HEAT OUTPUT FROM THE HEATER VENTS DUE TO THE HEATER CORE PLUGGING UP WITH "SLUDGE" AS CHRYSLER CALLS IT. THERE IS A CHRYSLER STAR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE HOTLINE CASE, NUMBER S1207000008 EXPLAINING HEATER CORE RESTRICTION DUE TO SLUDGE CAUSING POOR HEATER SYSTEM PERFORMANCE. IT IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF CHRYSLER 200 AND DODGE AVENGERS WHICH I AM SURE CAN BE VERIFIED BY CHRYSLER. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE A RECALL, OR AT LEAST AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ISSUE. THE STAR CASE STATES TO REPLACE THE HEATER CORE, RADIATOR, RADIATOR CAP AND REVERSE FLUSH THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IF THE CUSTOMER COMPLAINT CAN BE VERIFIED BY THE TECHNICIAN, HOWEVER IT DOES NOT EXPLAIN THE ACTUAL CAUSE OF THE SLUDGE. THE SYMPTOM FIRST NOTICED IS LITTLE OR NO HEAT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, THEN PROGRESSIVELY LOWER HEAT OUTPUT THE MORE PLUGGED THE HEATER CORE BECOMES AS TIME GOES ON. I BELIEVE IN COLD CLIMATES THIS COULD ALSO CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD TO STAY ICED OVER, OR BECOME ICED OVER AS YOU DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD DUE TO WIND CHILL FACTOR OF THE VEHICLE SPEED. IT COULD ALSO BE AGGRAVATED BY THE FACT THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER RUNS WITH THE HEATER ON DEFROST ( TO DRY INTERIOR AIR IN ORDER TO DE-FOG THE WINDSHIELD IN HUMID OR RAINY WEATHER) WHICH FURTHER COOLS THE ALREADY COLD AIR COMING FROM THE DEFROSTER VENT IF THE HEATER CORE EVENTUALLY BECOMES COMPLETELY PLUGGED. IN HOT CLIMATES, THE HEATER CORE STILL PLUGS UP, HOWEVER THE CUSTOMER MAY NEVER NOTICE THE SYMPTOMS. I ALSO HAPPEN TO BE CHRYSLER ACADEMY MASTER CERTIFIED IN ALL CORE CURRICULUM, POWERTRAIN, ELECTRICAL AND CHASSIS. ASE MASTER AND ADVANCED LEVEL CERTIFIED (A1 THROUGH A9 AND L1) ASE CERTIFIED PARTS SPECIALIST(P2)AND SERVICE CONSULTANT(C1) AND I HAVE AN AOS DEGREE IN AUTOMOTIVE TRADES FROM SUNY ALFRED. NEW YORK STATE DMV CERTIFICATIONS( F.E.E.T, S.T.E.P, C.A.P.S, F.I.S.T.). CREDENTIALS CAN BE VERIFIED UPON REQUEST. *TR